Get health insurance for laser eye surgery
Only a handful of health insurers cover you for laser eye surgery. We've listed the ones available on Finder below.
Fund | Laser Eye Surgery | Limit | Monthly Price | Apply |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Yes | $600 per eye | $56.20 | Get quote |
![]() | Yes | $900 per eye | $90.80 | Get quote |
Yes | $500 per eye | $97.30 | More info | |
![]() | Yes | $3,500 | $431.24 | More info |
*Quotes are based on single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
How does health insurance cover laser eye surgery?
![Icon from www.flaticon.com Optical extras](https://www.finder.com.au/finder-au/wp-uploads/2021/06/glassess_flaticon_512x512.png)
Extras
Only a handful of extras insurance policies cover laser eye surgery. There's no requirement for funds to offer cover – which means it's usually only available with very comprehensive policies. In some cases, like Medibank, you'll need to take out a combined hospital and extras policy to be covered.
![Icon from www.flaticon.com Hospital](https://www.finder.com.au/finder-au/wp-uploads/2021/06/hospital_flaticon_512x512.png)
Hospital
Hospital insurance doesn't usually cover laser eye surgery because it's generally not considered 'medically necessary'. However, all bronze policies cover other eye-related treatments including tear duct conditions, eye infections, retinal detachment and trauma to the eye. You'll need a gold policy if you want health insurance for cataract surgery.
What's the difference between laser eye surgery and other eye surgery?
- Laser eye surgery. These are all different ways of reshaping the lens to correct vision and remove the need to wear glasses. These procedures vary in cost and aren't always covered by either hospital or extras cover.
- Other eye surgery. This encompasses a wide variety of medically necessary surgical procedures such as glaucoma. It's covered by hospital insurance. Some insurers pay for any major eye procedure recommended by an ophthalmologist, others will only cover specific treatments or parts of the eye.
Eye surgery in the public and private systems
What does Medicare cover you for? | What isn't covered? |
---|---|
|
|
Health insurance policy type | What can it cover? |
---|---|
Hospital Cover |
|
Extras Cover |
|
How much does laser eye surgery cost without insurance?
Without health insurance, you'll need to pay the full cost of laser eye surgery yourself. The final bill will depend on the type of surgery you have, and will vary based on which provider you ultimately choose. Here is a summary of some of the price ranges of common surgery types.
Procedure | Typical price (per eye) | Details |
---|---|---|
LASIK | $1,500 - $3,400 | In LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), a surgeon uses lasers to create a flap in the cornea and reshape the underlying tissue before replacing the flap. |
PRK | $1,500-$3,400 | For PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), a surgeon uses a topical solution to remove the top layer of corneal cells, and a laser to reshape the exposed corneal tissue below. |
SMILE | $3,300 - $3,700 | In SMILE (small incision lenticular extraction), a surgeon make a small incision in the cornea with a laser and then removes a small disc of underlying corneal tissue. |
LASEK | $2,400 - $3,400 | LASEK (laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis) has a laser create an ultra-thin layer of the barrier that protects the cornea, which is moved to the side so the surgeon can reshape the corneal tissue below. The barrier is then re-positioned back on the cornea. |
ICL | $4,700 - $6,200 | An ICL (implantable contact lenses) is a custom lens, similar to a contact lens, that is created by a surgeon and implanted directly into the eye. |
What should I look for when comparing laser eye insurance policies?
When comparing health insurance policies for laser eye surgery, keep the following in mind:
- Waiting periods. This is the minimum amount of time you must wait between taking out a policy and claiming benefits with it. For laser eye surgery, this is often 24 months, while in-hospital major eye surgery is typically two months.
- Excess. This is a fee you must pay when claiming benefits. Not all health insurance policies include excesses, but some do. You may be able to opt for a higher excess and lower premiums, or a lower excess and higher premiums. It's good to make sure that your excess is not so high as to prevent you from making any claims.
- Limits. All private health funds have annual limits, which are the maximum amount you can claim in benefits per year. Limit for laser eye surgery range from around $500 to $3500.
Why you can trust Finder's health insurance experts
![Image: Supplied free](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-au/wp-uploads/2024/05/no-money.png)
![Image: Supplied expert advice](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-au/wp-uploads/2024/05/clock.png)
![Image: Supplied independent](https://dvh1deh6tagwk.cloudfront.net/finder-au/wp-uploads/2024/05/experience.png)
More guides on Finder
-
Occupational therapy and health insurance
Find out how both Medicare and private health insurance cover occupational therapy to get the assistance you need.
-
Health insurance for chiropractic treatment
Get discounts on your chiropractic treatment with private extras cover.
-
Health insurance for psychology
Ensure your health insurance includes psychological wellbeing services when comparing cover.
-
Health insurance for remedial massage
Remedial massage can help ease pain from general wear and tear as well as specific injuries. This treatment isn’t covered by Medicare but is included in private health insurance extras cover. Find out how private health insurance can cover you for remedial massage therapy.
-
Health insurance for acupuncture
Does insurance cover acupuncture? Find out here.
-
Does health insurance cover prescription medication?
How can you make a claim for prescription medication on your private health insurance policy? Find out in this comprehensive guide.
-
When do health insurance benefits reset?
What do the annual benefit limits on your health insurance extras cover actually mean? Find out here.
-
Health insurance for blood pressure monitors
Find out when blood pressure monitors will be covered by Health Insurance and what you stand to receive in a claim.
-
Physiotherapy insurance
Physiotherapy services can be beneficial at any life stage, so it could be worth considering and comparing extras health insurance that can cover the cost of this type of treatment.
-
Health insurance for non-PBS pharmaceuticals
If you're wondering what pharmaceutical costs are covered by private health insurance, we've got a guide to health cover for non-PBS pharmaceuticals here.